AMOTW: Gigi Salon

Hello Lovelies!

It is (finally) that time again! This week's Astoria Merchant of the Week is Gigi Salon & Styling Studio.

Photo Credit: CitySearch.com

Located on 30th Avenue and 35th Street, Gigi (an AVEDA concept salon) is within easy walking distance of the NW train and...well...most places in Astoria! I live on 36th Street and 23rd Avenue, and it takes me less than 10 minutes to get there by foot. People have been known to travel much farther for a great hairstyle; in fact, the last time I was there, I overheard one woman saying how she commuted from the Upper West Side just to have her hair done at Gigi!

When I first found the listing for Gigi on Yelp.com, I was a bit concerned that the atmosphere would be too elitist for my tastes. The last thing a woman wants is to feel uneasy while putting the fate of her precious locks into the hands of a stranger. However, when I arrived at the salon I was greeted with friendly smiles. After filling out a form for their client database, I was put into the capable hands of Lorin, who I have come to adore. She's a versatile stylist who seems to intuitively know what her customer wants. She takes the time to have a serious discussion with you about the gameplan for your hair, actually listens to what you have to say, before sending you off for a relaxing AVEDA shampoo and conditioning treatment. You can't help but to feel comfortable, whether you're going in for a routine trim, or something more extreme...say...chopping off all of your hair and dying it green.

I consider the pricing to be fairly reasonable, especially as Gigi's services are comparable to many upscale Manhattan salons (think Julien Farel or Frederic Fekkai). My haircuts with Lorin cost about $40, and they last 2-3 months. The last time I had my hair cut at Julien Farel, the shape only lasted about a month, and it was more than twice the price!

Another thing that I love about Gigi is that I don't feel pressured to buy the AVEDA products. I've been to so many salons where they borderline harass you into buying their products, and, being the sucker I am, I often found myself carting home a bottle or two of styling junk that would end up wasting away in the dark recesses under my bathroom sink. Since it is an AVEDA concept salon, the products are certainly demonstrated and are available to purchase if you should wish, but every session does not with a sales pitch.

I may try a few more salons, just to see what else is out there. After all, it doesn't hurt to experiment; hair always grows back. However, I know that I've definitely found consistent quality and service at Gigi. So, if you're new to the area or looking to switch salons, I suggest giving Gigi Salon & Styling Studio a try!


GIGI Salon & Styling Studio
AVEDA Concept Salon
34-17 30th Avenue
Astoria, NY 11103
T: 718.777.7755
http://www.gigistylingstudio.com
A full list of salon services and prices is available on the website.